On Tuesday, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) promised to lead an investigation into the Biden Administration’s decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in a prisoner-swap deal last month.
As the New York Post reports, Comer, who is also Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, denounced the $6 billion payment as a “ransom payment to Iran.” The payment, already widely criticized by Republicans upon its announcement, has faced additional scrutiny in the aftermath of a massive invasion of Israel over the weekend by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead. Many have pointed to Iran as a likely state sponsor of the attack.
“From the Biden Administration’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal to its $6 billion ransom payment to Iran, President Biden’s policies have led to turmoil in the region,” Comer said in his statement. “Congress has a duty to hold the Biden Administration accountable.”
On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed, with no evidence, that “not a single dollar has been spent from that account” since it was unfrozen. Blinken said the account, based in Qatar, has been monitored by the United States Treasury since the deal was solidified last month. The money had been obtained from oil revenue and was frozen by South Korea due to international sanctions.
“The House Oversight Committee will continue to examine the foreign policy under this Administration and how it jeopardizes our national security,” Comer added. “We will also continue our critical oversight of how taxpayer dollars are being used in order to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.”
The probe into Biden’s Iran policies adds just one more investigation against Biden overall, as several House committees are currently leading an official impeachment inquiry into Biden over allegations that he, his son Hunter, and other family members profited off of foreign businesses while Biden was Vice President under the Obama Administration.